Which user should the embedded application run as?

Question

We have an embedded linux product with an application which lets the user change different settings through the menu system. These settings include IP address/DHCP and time.

We now run this application as root but this feels wrong, letting the user directly interact with a process run as root.

Which user should we use?

If not root, how do we accomplish the permission issues that arise?

EDIT: The product does not have a graphical user environment in the classical Gnome/KDE fashion. The menu system mentioned is implemented on an LCD panel on the product itself.

Answer 1

If strict controls are applied to input, there is nothing wrong to run an embedded application as root on Linux.

Anyway, when the underlying OS is something like VxWorks, applications run with maximum privileges as well.